Montgomery County residents and visitors are invited to celebrate Black History Month at the Oakley Cabin African American Museum in Brookeville. Organizers encourage visitors to take a selfie with AI Shirley, the park’s artificial intelligence (AI) virtual interpreter, and share it on social media for a chance to win a variety of prizes throughout February. 

“Oakley Cabin tells an important story about the African American families who helped shape Montgomery County,” said Marc Elrich. “Through innovative tools like AI Shirley and augmented reality, we’re making history more accessible and engaging for all ages. I encourage residents and visitors to take part in the #SelfieWithShirley contest and experience this unique way of learning during Black History Month.” 

The contest encourages visitors of all ages to have fun with the augmented reality experiences at Oakley Cabin and for visitors age 13 and older to share photos on Google Maps, Instagram, X, and Facebook. Use the hashtag #SelfieWithShirley and tag County Cable Montgomery @CountyCableMoCo for a chance to win one of nine $25 gift cards for the best posts. An overall grand prize winner will be awarded a $100 gift card. 

• Posts will be judged by XR Montgomery staff based on creativity, shot composition, the quality of AR elements featured, whimsy, and how well posts create interest in visiting Oakley Cabin.  
• Winners will be featured on the County’s website and social media. 
• An additional prize category will recognize posts featuring the AI Shirley AR experience. 

AI Shirley is a 3D avatar that uses artificial intelligence to answer visitor questions about the history of Oakley Cabin and the Black tenant families who lived there after the Civil War through the mid-1900s. The nine AR experiences, created by the County’s XR Montgomery program, Montgomery Parks, and the University of Maryland, allow visitors to: 

• See the cabin interior. 
• Place farm animals and objects in the outdoor space. 
• Watch videos about the site’s history. 

XR Montgomery is powered by the County’s Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS). The contest is open to visitors aged 13 and older. Posts must include #SelfieWithShirley and tag @CountyCableMoCo to be eligible. Posts are also encouraged to tag @MontgomeryParks and #OakleyCabinAR.

The Oakley Cabin African American Museum and Park is open from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week. Visitors can access AR by scanning QR codes with their smartphones. The Oakley Cabin building will reopen for in-person tours in April (open first and third Saturdays, April–Oct.). 

• AI Shirley and AR experiences are available in seven languages. 
• All experiences include closed captions. 

“AI Shirley brings history to life in a way that’s interactive and fun,” said Gail M. Roper, TEBS Director, and Montgomery County CIO. “We invite everyone to join us in celebrating Black History Month and learning about this important part of Montgomery County’s heritage.” 

For more information, visit the Oakley Cabin AR Experience website.  

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